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B'ville couple donates $10,000 to children battling cancer after reading about charity hockey game

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Four-year-old William Relyea, a cancer survivor, dropped the puck at Tuesday's charity hockey game for Maureen's Hope in honor of all those battling cancer. His older brother Nicholas Reyea is by his side. The game raised money for Hally Krolik, 8, of Baldwinsville, who is battling a rare kidney cancer and Jack Podkaminer, 2, of Jamesville, who is battling a rare cancer that was found in his neck. But both children are undergoing treatments and could not attend the game.
(Provided photo)

Baldwinsville, NY -- George and Eileen Townsend, of Baldwinsville, donated $10,000 to Maureen's Hope after reading about a charity hockey game that raised money for two Central New York children battling cancer.

George Townsend said he read about the Baldwinsville Bees and Liverpool Warriors charity hockey game in The Post-Standard's Neighbors North this morning and wanted to help the children. He called Susan Bertrand, founder of Maureen's Hope, and brought her a check for $10,000 this afternoon. The couple owns Honda City.

"I was speechless after the phone call," Bertrand said. "It's so amazing."

Bertrand coordinated the hockey game between the two high school rivals on Tuesday to raise money for Hally Krolik, 8, of Baldwinsville, who is battling a rare kidney cancer and Jack Podkaminer, 2, of Jamesville, who is battling a rare cancer that was found in his neck.

Jack Podkaminer, 2, of Jamesville, is battling a rare cancer that was found in his neck.Provided photo

The game raised $3,907 for the families and Bertrand said the $10,000 will also help the two families and other families through the Maureen's Hope Foundation.

Krolik was diagnosed with cancer in March and she has endured very aggressive treatments for Wilms Tumor, which is a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. Krolik is a third grade student at Reynolds Elementary School.

Podkaminer was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that was found in his neck in April. He spent most of the summer in Boston where he received radiation treatments. He is now undergoing very aggressive chemotherapy treatments.

Maureen's Hope, a not-for-profit that supports people in CNY facing a cancer or other life-altering disease diagnosis, has offered support to more than 1,100 families in the CNY community over the past eight years.